Barbara E. Selby
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
October 8, 1991
(Phone: 703/557-5609)
RELEASE: 91-166
NASA SELECTS TWO NEW CCDSs; ONE DISCONTINUED
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration today
announced the selection of two additional Centers for the
Commercial Development of Space (CCDS). The new centers will
specialize in the commercialization of advanced satellite
communications technologies and other space-based
telecommunications technologies.
The centers selected under this fourth solicitation in the
agency's CCDS program are the Center for the Commercial
Development of Space in Satellite and Hybrid Communication
Networks, University of Maryland Systems Research Center, College
Park, and the Space Communications Technology Center, Florida
Atlantic University Research Corp., Boca Raton.
A key element in NASA's initiative to support the expanded
commercial use of space, CCDSs are innovative research
institutions funded through cooperative partnerships of industry,
academia and government. NASA's Office of Commercial Programs
manages the grant program and provides annual funding up to $1
million to each center for an initial 5-years which may be
extended. The CCDSs also receive support from corporate and
university affiliates.
Ten proposals were received in response to the agency's
solicitation of focused satellite communications CCDSs that would
enhance the utilization and technical spinoffs of the Advanced
Communications Technology Satellite, scheduled to be deployed
from the Space Shuttle in April 1993.
In an unrelated action, NASA and Vanderbilt University,
Nashville, Tenn., mutually have agreed to discontinue the
institution's Center for Space Processing of Engineering
Materials. Because of a decline in research by large metals
fabricators and producers, the center has been unable to generate
the level of corporate support to meet the space agency's
requirements for cash contributions by industry members.
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The two actions bring the total number of CCDSs to 17. In
addition to advanced communications, the current nationwide
network of CCDSs specialize in seven other research disciplines:
materials processing in space (4), life sciences (3), remote
sensing (2), automation and robotics (2), space power (2), space
propulsion (1), and space structures and materials (1).
-end-